Announcing Playtime, a Session View for REAPER

[dinoc]

My conclusions so far:
-If one wants to record an fx processed track you have to enable "Record Output".
-If you do that, while recording a clip in the playtime interface a "Playtime Worker" plugin is added to the original track and the media is only recorded to the track which has the playtime plugin loaded and not the original track...
-Meaning all tracks that are recorded with Record "Output enabled" will all have their media recorded all together in the same track that has the playtime plugin loaded... this is the oposite of what I want.
-For the time being the only way I found to have the media recorded to a track that doesnt have the playtime plugin loaded is to use the standard "Record Input Audio or midi" but that only records the HARDWARE audio or midi inputs... It doesnt care if you have audio or midi sent into that track...
I think I'm fighting a lost cause hehe

[todd_r]

Originally Posted by helgoboss

...Playtime 2 - converting it from a VSTi plug-in to a normal global REAPER extension. That's why I asked.

Would be very excited for a V2 as a global extension, setup as a VST is a little but clunky for me. Is there any progress on this?

[zer075]

Originally Posted by dinoc

I think I'm fighting a lost cause hehe

Do not be discouraged.

I loaded up your project, which works pretty much as I created it.

Am I wrong in assuming you would like to manipulate the recorded output, after a jam session? You can load the saved wave files to new track if you wanted to.

There is no I/O capability within Playtime that I can tell, and I believe this is what you are really looking for. There may be some way I have not yet learn, it is Reaper after all.

In my current setup, I do not use Playtime as a guitar looper. I use it to launch midi clips sent to a drum machine, and synth recording for sketching or jamming.

I'll send you a PM regarding guitar looping.

[dinoc]

Is there a way to stop clip recordings wiyh a specific action/ midi command instead of having to press the exact same
clip?
It would be easier to stop a recording from a single generic stop button instead of pressing the exact same clip.
By the way using multiple instances of playtime works really well.

[Anti]

I'm struggling to work out how to create guitar loops by recording them straight into Playtime.

Background info:

· Load the Playtime project template as a new project. Playtime is in Reaper track 1.
· Place EZD2 on Reaper track 2.
· Dragged a 8-measure drum pattern from EZD2 into scene 1 track 1.
· Dragged a different 8-measure pattern from EZD2 into scene 2 track 1.

· Now I want to record an 8-measure, looping guitar riff into scene 1 track 2.
· After that I would like to record another 8-measure variant guitar riff into scene 2 track 2.
· Finally, I would like to play it all back and switch easily between the two guitar and two drum riffs (ie. 4 combinations).

The two major problems I'm having with this are:

· The guitar riffs are not looped to 8 measures. The time it takes me to press stop after playing becomes part of the recording. I'm used to 'time selection auto-punch' in Reaper, but Playtime is ignoring that set-up; it's not punching in/out, and not creating 8-measure loops from the audio recordings. Instead I have to adjust the 'section length' after recording. But that doesn't feel like the right way to be doing this.

· When I try to record the second guitar riff into scene 2, the riff already in scene 1 also plays during recording. I expected everything else in the column to mute while I recorded into a slot!? Again, it feels like I'm fighting against Playtime by trying to do something that I shouldn't be doing that way?

At this point, even though I've read the manual and spent a couple of hours messing around, I'm still at the point whereby when I press something, I have to then sit back for a few minutes and think 'Hmmm... why did it do that? That's not what I was expecting.' It seems to me to be quite erratic, and doesn't do exactly the same each time?

Thanks for any clarification.

[dinoc]

Hey Anti,
regarding the guitar riffs you could try recording them to different columns in playtime, without having to create another track in reaper, just make those 2 columns in playtime get the audio from the guitar track. That way you can mute guitar columns separately if that's any use.
I believe playtime is actually inspired in Ableton Live and the Launchpad clip controllers adapted to reaper. I dont have such controller but have setup my smartphone with the touchosc app to do something similar. It's probably best suited for electronic music, but I still get a kick out of it with my guitar and ezdrummer.
-Regarding the audio recording length like you said I believe you have to manually start and stop the recording but at least there is good syncing to the recording starts and stops at measure.
Maybe others can get better input to this, don't know if there's a way to do auto recording / auto stop / punch in / punch out. Reaper has a lot of scripting and programming potential so it shouldnt be so strange that someone manages to a integrate that.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Anti

I'm struggling to work out how to create guitar loops by recording them straight into Playtime.

Background info:

· Load the Playtime project template as a new project. Playtime is in Reaper track 1.
· Place EZD2 on Reaper track 2.
· Dragged a 8-measure drum pattern from EZD2 into scene 1 track 1.
· Dragged a different 8-measure pattern from EZD2 into scene 2 track 1.

· Now I want to record an 8-measure, looping guitar riff into scene 1 track 2.
· After that I would like to record another 8-measure variant guitar riff into scene 2 track 2.
· Finally, I would like to play it all back and switch easily between the two guitar and two drum riffs (ie. 4 combinations).

The two major problems I'm having with this are:

· The guitar riffs are not looped to 8 measures. The time it takes me to press stop after playing becomes part of the recording. I'm used to 'time selection auto-punch' in Reaper, but Playtime is ignoring that set-up; it's not punching in/out, and not creating 8-measure loops from the audio recordings. Instead I have to adjust the 'section length' after recording. But that doesn't feel like the right way to be doing this.

· When I try to record the second guitar riff into scene 2, the riff already in scene 1 also plays during recording. I expected everything else in the column to mute while I recorded into a slot!? Again, it feels like I'm fighting against Playtime by trying to do something that I shouldn't be doing that way?

At this point, even though I've read the manual and spent a couple of hours messing around, I'm still at the point whereby when I press something, I have to then sit back for a few minutes and think 'Hmmm... why did it do that? That's not what I was expecting.' It seems to me to be quite erratic, and doesn't do exactly the same each time?

Thanks for any clarification.

[Anti]

> Regarding the audio recording length like you said I believe you have to manually start and stop the recording

OK, so I'm NOT doing something wrong then! I assumed Playtime would automatically make loops. So I guess it's not really meant for live-looping, as in: playing a riff for 4 measures, then that starts looping as you laying another riff on top of it, and so on. It's more geared to making all your loops beforehand, and making music by triggering different loops at different times. I thought it did both.


I've spent more time on Playtime this morning, and I'm slowly getting the hang of it. Although I haven't really come across the moment where I think it's going to be able to improve my song-writing workflow, I'm sure I'll get there soon.

Any other advice is welcome.

[Michael AD]

I haven't seen anyone mention it, but Loopcloud and Playtime work together very nicely.

I subscribed to Loopcloud about a month ago, mostly to categorize my sample library, and I must admit that Loopcloud does a fantastic job. I can search my files by BPM, instrument, genre, length of clip, tonal qualities, and much more.

This morning I hooked it up with Playtime and I was able to drag the clips from the Loopcloud interface into the Playtime interface and everything worked as if I was using Reaper's Media Explorer, but with all the advantages of the Loopcloud interface/database. I also use a Novation Launchpad Pro to trigger the clips and it too worked as expected.

If you're a Playtime user, you might want to check out Loopcloud. They offer a free 30 day trial.

[Softsynth]

Originally Posted by Anti

> Regarding the audio recording length like you said I believe you have to manually start and stop the recording

OK, so I'm NOT doing something wrong then! I assumed Playtime would automatically make loops. So I guess it's not really meant for live-looping, as in: playing a riff for 4 measures, then that starts looping as you laying another riff on top of it, and so on. It's more geared to making all your loops beforehand, and making music by triggering different loops at different times. I thought it did both.


I've spent more time on Playtime this morning, and I'm slowly getting the hang of it. Although I haven't really come across the moment where I think it's going to be able to improve my song-writing workflow, I'm sure I'll get there soon.

Any other advice is welcome.

Here's another looper option which is for live looping (rather harder to install):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmMO4KhsxLI&t
https://www.nablatools.com/

[Anti]

Originally Posted by Softsynth

Here's another looper option which is for live looping (rather harder to install):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmMO4KhsxLI&t
https://www.nablatools.com/

Thanks. I think Nabla looks awesome, but what attracted me to Playtime was its tight integration/workflow. I'm trying to get away from setting-up Reaper and twiddling with plugins, toward making more music (although the two are obviously intertwined).

I sense Playtime is going to help me do that, but I just haven't worked out how yet, in terms of possibilities and workflows.

[vonglan]

Hi,

I am trying to make Playtime act like a simple looper (in combination with control via ReaLearn).
I want to extend the standard "selectedSlotRecordAndRight" behavior, by encapsulating it within a Reascript and doing additional things, especially:
- After finishing recording, arm the next track, so the user can "rehearse" the next track's sound/part, before recording it.

My current problem is: In the script, I need playtime's current state (recording or not), which corresponds to parameter 50. This parameter's current value is displayed correctly in the track control (On/Off).
However, when I try to read the parameter value from Lua with
reaper.TrackFX_GetParamNormalized - I always get 0.0
reaper.TrackFX_GetFormattedParamValue - I always get "Off"

(reaper.TrackFX_GetParam correctly gets the Min and Max Values 0.0 and 1.0, so I think everything else is ok.)

Any ideas?

----

Updates:

1. Just tried the same with a ReaComp parameter (instead of Playtime parameter). Parameter changes are correctly reported in this case.
2. Also tried one of the "template ReaScripts" https://github.com/ReaTeam/ReaScript...cused%20FX.lua
It also gave the wrong parameter value for Playtime (0.0 / Off, although the parameter is "On" in the track control parameter display) (but worked ok with ReaComp)

3. Note that the example script states different parameters to getParam:
local val, minvalOut, maxvalOut = reaper.TrackFX_GetParam
According to API documentation, parameter 1 is the return value, not the parameter value.

---- SOLUTION:

Playtime offers two, similarly named parameters:
- Record selected slot, go right (simple)
- Record selected slot, go right (advanced)
In the track control, I displayed the "advanced" parameter. In the script, I accessed the "simple" parameter.
The script yields the correct (current) parameter, once I request the "advanced" parameter. (Which is intended for toggle buttons, which I use)

[vonglan]

I am working on a combination of Playtime and ReaLearn. I would like to trigger actions, that perform quantize or duplicate (length) on the selected clip.
Is there a possibility in a ReaScript to find out which is the media item that is related to the currently selected Playtime clip?

[andy79]

Hi,
I purchased Playtime and I was trying to test it with the Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3.
Although I set the hardware output to the controller and I select in Playtime settings the Launchpad Mini, it doesn't work in Session mode.
Any idea what can I do wrong?
Thank you.

[MarkSA]

I have bought the Pro version MK3. I think I got it work. Down load DrivenByMoss plugins. Install it in your Reaper User plugin folder, select the plugin, and your controller. And it should work with Playtime. Play around until you're satisfied.

[pax-eterna]

Any chance of a Linux version?

[deseipel]

update: got this going with ReaLearn, testing still

is there a way to map a MIDI note to record/stop? or is there a different workflow for Playtime? I'm trying to record a clip, press stop and have it immediately playback. its a real pain to go from a synth to grab a mouse and try to click on a stop button in the playtime vst. i just want a midi note to map to toggle record/stop.

[deseipel]

this seems like a simple setting but I can't figure this out. I record a simple phrase in the slot and it plays back. But after about the 3 time, its suddenly off time. Its starting the clip too soon?

[Anti]

lol... I gave up in May and left it until now.

I went back to it this morning, and I'm completely baffled again.

Right, forget the drums and bass and everything else.

All I want to do first is record two different guitar riffs in scene1 - one riff in group1, and one in group2. But when I record group2, I need to hear the previous group1 riff.

So can anyone tell me how to do that?

Then I want to record two more riffs in scene2 this time. Again, I should be able to hear one or more of the previous clips as I'm recording the new clips, as a guide.

How do I do that?

Then I want to play group1 and group2 clips in different combinations: 1+2, 1+4, 3+2 and 3+4.


I usually record in Reaper using time-selected punch-in. But right now I can't even work out which tracks I need to create/record into, which ones need to be record enabled, what the monitoring is supposed to be set to, or if I'm supposed to record into Reaper tracks or direct into Playtime? Nothing I try works as expected.


Can anyone tell me, starting from a blank project, how to record four clips into Playtime whilst monitoring a selection of previous clips, and then audition the clips together in different combinations?

Thanks.

[Toby_Prin]

Hi - I hope this is the right thread - keep seeing people saying there is a dedicated thread - and this one looks very busy.

Quick questions if anyone knows.

1 - Can the amount of sample slots of groups be increased? I see the view change - thought that might add banks - but seemingly not...

2 - When using launchpad - I can drag drop samples to move them to a different button (so I can re-organise easily) - but when I map a controller via learn - moving the sample moves the learnt midi note too - so while on screen it is displayed on a different slot - the same mapped button triggers the sample! Not ideal...

I've tried quite alot of settings, but nothing seems to help - only bought it last night but need to do a performance with it this evening!

Any help greatly appreciated.

[joaommeirelles]

any Linux version chance?

[daniellumertz]

Using it in the devs v, it seems to be working but it gives some glitches in the screen arrange:



Probably because of the introduction of fixed Item lanes

[akademie]

Originally Posted by joaommeirelles

any Linux version chance?

+1000
yes

[Freiin]

Maybe sir Helgo is baking some update?

[mfan]

So reading these posts it seems support for the current non-pro versions of Launchpad hardware (eg. X and Mini MK3) is sketchy, but those posts are from a long time ago.

Anyone out there using Launchpad X or Launchpad Mini MK3? Do they work 100% out of the box, or do you have to do a bunch of hacks? Would I be better off then seeking out a used previous-gen one?

[helgoboss]

Anybody interested in Playtime 2? It's in the works.

Feel free to ask questions here

[todd_r]

Originally Posted by helgoboss

Anybody interested in Playtime 2? It's in the works.

Feel free to ask questions here

Oooh just saw this, Exciting news!

[tweed]

SHORT VERSION: i will purchase a license immediately when version 2 released!!!

[Tommy Zai]

I'm having trouble installing on my iMac. Is Playtime still supported?

The Installation Failed!
The installer could not install the software because there was no software found to install

[Doflow]

Originally Posted by daniellumertz

Using it in the devs v, it seems to be working but it gives some glitches in the screen arrange:



Probably because of the introduction of fixed Item lanes

Hi, I noticed this behavior and pinpointed it was introduced in v6.54.
v6.53 works fine.
I don't know which change caused this, but it's kind of annoying, imho.

Any progress on v2 or maybe a small update on v1?

[helgoboss]

First milestone on the road to Playtime 2:



Discussion in the Playtime 2 thread: https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=262395

[radsy]

Hey I'm loving Playtime but having an issue mapping my APC Mini.

It's all working fine with the APC Mini profile, and I can use the Learn function to map the "column stop" trigger to the bottom row of round buttons, but only for columns 5-8. This does not work for columns 1-4 - it's like the round buttons for cols 1-4 have been hardcoded to some other function (possibly shifting the 8x8 button matrix if it is larger than 8x8 in playtime?).

Is it possible to fix it so I can map those 4 buttons to the column stop function, the same as cols 5-8? Thanks

*edit*

OK self-solved. Edited apc-mini.json and removed the 4 global navigation parameters, as suspected it looks like they were preventing the learn function mapping those 4 buttons. Sorted.

[Jessy]

Originally Posted by helgoboss

I see. Do you have any suggestion? The thing is, I don't want to confuse users with too many options that influence the way Playtime handles a button press. Have to think about it further.

Oh, maybe it can be done like this: Let's assume record-if-slot-empty mode and exclusive mode are enabled and the user presses a MIDI pad of a playing slot. Now, if the slot's group has a MIDI trigger assigned (for stopping it), Playtime will retrigger the clip - as it does now. But *if not*, it will stop the clip, because it knows the user probably wants to have a way to stop clips. Any thoughts?



Region sequencing is not implemented in Playtime. Seems to be quite a different concept. It would essentially mean repositioning the play cursor to the start of the triggered region. Doesn't sound difficult but as I see it now it's not really Playtime's scope. I'd like to keep Playtime focused on being a session view. I suggest you give the SWS extension a try.

Well, is there a way to select some pre-existing regions and press "extract regions bounce" or something and get those regions inside the VST with 1 button?
That leaves the paly-head free to be in playback or not and effectively you can overlay the sounds over your playback, right?
Then next I am curious whether we can play the sounds in:
1) Immediate mode i.e. drum parts
2) Song parts mode, play until the end and activate the latest event and clear all the rest at the start of the event.
3) Play in Queue, all in order of triggering, meaning you press all the events you want and it plays them in order 1 by 1.

[Tommy Zai]

I'm very excited about this updated feature.

[hwhalen]

Hello helogoboss

In the original Playtime

The maximum number of beats for a loaded file clip appears to be 64
Is this correct?

[Ubad00d]

Playtime is great - loving it! I have it setup for liveloop drumpad, guitar, bass, midikeyboard, with an APC mini + custom midi pedal.

One question - is there a way to have playtime automatically select the slot which I have just pressed record/trigger/untrigger on? This would be great as I could then quickly delete the clip currently recording if I mess up.

Thanks!

[gabopv89]

Originally Posted by helgoboss

First milestone on the road to Playtime 2:



Discussion in the Playtime 2 thread: https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=262395

I'm just getting started with Playtime 1, I'll surely be ready and set up with the current tool whenever playtime 2 comes out!! Thanks for making such an awesome tool for an awesome DAW.

[/AND/]

Originally Posted by akademie

+1000
yes

Not 1000, a million yes!

[AudioBabble]

Quick question: is the license per-version or is it a perpetual license with free upgrades for future versions?

[EDIT] ... found it: "Playtime v1.x Full License. Includes upgrades through all Playtime 1.x versions"

[klong]

I wanted to try this tonight and bought the license (~22 usd) but it looks like it isn't going to work on my M1 Macbook Air, as the plugin is x86_64 only (not Apple Silicon), and it needs to run in "native mode" in REAPER and not bridged, which is the only way to run x86_64 intel plugins on Apple Silicon .. wrote the developer to see if there is any workaround

[biasply]

Hi All,
I'm very new to Playtime, but I'm getting it together pretty quickly.
It's a great solution for a replacement workflow using Reaper instead of Ableton.

I have my Launchpad Mini (original) playing clips from the Playtime grid just fine, but there's no feedback at all to my Mini. I can confirm it does the usual boot and shutdown visuals, just nothing while in use in Reaper. I'm sure I'm missing a toggle of some sort somewhere.

Any help, greatly appreciated.

Cheers!